Montecito (a small town adjacent to Santa Barbara) has an interesting varient of the retirement community, derived from what at one time was a large estate. Some folks buy multiple units and combine them, others use their unit as a pied-a-terre. You can walk to the beach. Julia Child spent her final years there. You need to pass a medical exam to buy-in, but once in everything is covered from independent living to skilled nursing. There is a long waiting list, though. On a recent visit, we enjoyed an excellent lunch, and visited a unit with high-end appliances and a view of a beautiful little garden. For us, a major attraction is it's less than a mile form where we live now.